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The fact that there was nothing to do didn’t sit right with Hermione. Since the boys had been captured, she’d be running on fumes. Trying to figure out how to get them back as well as fight the virus. It was a four pronged attack if there ever was one.
The stillness rubbed her the wrong way. She felt like she needed to be doing something. The thought of actually taking a break had never occurred to her. There was too much to do and too many people counting on her. The fact that half of them didn’t even know she was alive was just a bonus.
The fewer people knew about her movements the better.
It was currently the only advantage that they had. The Dark Lord’s followers weren’t sure if Hermione was alive or dead. It wasn’t much of an ace in the hole, but it was better than nothing.
Watching the sun rise, she hunkered down further into her chair as she heard movement from behind her. When Bill’s arm wrapped around her, she relaxed into his hold.
“Why aren’t you sleeping?” They had this conversation every day, she never seemed to have a decent answer to it. Hermione simply shrugged her shoulders as she tilted her head back, searching for a kiss. When he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, she found herself floating.
For one moment there was no fear, they hadn’t lost the war, and all was right with the world. Hermione was no fool, she knew Bill didn’t love her. Just like he was aware she didn’t love him. They were placeholders for the people they both missed so terribly.
At least there was hope for Hermione that her person was still alive. Bill didn’t have that luxury. Fleur’s death had been slow and torturous from what the intel had told them.
“The same reason you’re not.” They didn’t talk about the fact they both had nightmares. It was just one of those subjects they avoided with a ten-foot pole. Their nightmares were enough to haunt them during the day; let alone when they slept. “Budge over love.” Hermione moved enough to allow him to sit down next to her. She chose to ignore the fact Bill called her love. He’d been doing that since they’d met up after the fall.
It was more out of a desire to be close to someone, anyone, than any true feelings of love. It was why their sex life was so frantic. It was out of a desire to feel something, anything, at this point in the war. Bill had probably been the best fuck she’d ever had. Yet it was just that. Sex with no real feelings behind it.
His wound was too raw and Hermione was too closed off for anything more to come of it.
“What do we do now?” The fact they were camped out in the Forest of Dean, living out of a tent once again wasn’t lost on Hermione. She’d done the same with Harry and Ron. The fact she was back here with Bill was nearly serendipitous.
“We survive.” Hermione gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes before she turned back to the rising sun. “It’s all we can do.”
“We can do better than that.” Bill’s voice was low, but the conviction with which he spoke wasn’t lost on Hermione. “We live.” Hermione scoffed, but it was loud enough that Bill heard it. “He wants to wipe us out. So we do better. We live long enough to fight back. We take back what’s ours, and we live.” Hermione hummed, relaxing into his hold.
He felt amazing after having been alone for so long. It was nice to have someone next to her after nearly two years of solitude. Hermione was certain she wasn’t meant to be alone like she had been. She’d nearly gone crazy without someone else around.
It had taken months to get used to being around another human being. Months to stop jumping every time Bill walked into a room. Months to adjust to the fact she didn’t have to do it alone anymore.
At least for a little while.
They both knew they’d have to separate long before the war ended. Plans were slowly being put into place to start retaking the Wizarding World. It was a complex plan with so many moving parts Hermione usually had a headache thinking about it all. But it was the best plan they had come up with in recent days.
They were playing the long game. It was the only way to end this once and for all.
“You know you won’t be able to stay here forever, right?” Her voice was soft, but it carried as if she had spoken at full volume. “I need you elsewhere if we’re going to win this.” Neither of them had figured out how Hermione had become the de facto head of the resistance that was slowly building.
It was just the way things were.
When he pressed a kiss into her hair, Hermione sighed before relaxing her tense body into his once more.
“I know. Just let me enjoy it while we have time.” He wrapped his arm around her, squeezing before relaxing his arm and letting it rest across her shoulders. The sun rose with a red ring, a dark omen if there ever was one. “We need to do a supply run soon.” The safe houses were being rung dry.
Their numbers were estimates at best, but their safe house network was being pushed to the extreme. Hermione added the safe houses to her mental list before she felt a flick at her ear. Tilting her head to the side, Hermione raised an eyebrow as Bill chuckled.
“Stop thinking. Just stop. Take a break for once in your life, Granger.” It was said with a teasing tone, but a seriousness shone in his eyes. Hermione knew enough to know Bill thought she was pushing herself too hard.
It was why he was forcing her to sit here. Normally she would have been up and moving as soon as the sun had crested the horizon. It felt nice to just sit, but the guilt at the back of her mind was slowly creeping in.
Hermione knew she’d have to start her day sooner or later. There was too much to do. A never-ending to-do list that seemed to grow longer each day. Each day brought new challenges that she had to push through when all she wanted to do was curl up in bed and not move. Yet she found she couldn't’ allow herself to do that.
Not when Harry and Ron were being held captive in Malfoy Manor. Not when her two best friends were probably being tortured or were already dead.
“I don’t think you realize how hard it is for me to shut my brain off.” Bill nodded, as if he truly understood, before he ran a finger down her jaw to underneath her chin.
“I have an idea or two on how to do that.” When he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, Hermione found she could taste his desperation in the kiss.
Something she returned wholeheartedly.